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Waikato Family Centre: Nurturing Futures Through Compassionate Care

Thanks to your generous support, the Waikato Family Centre has continued to be a lifeline for families/whānau across the region—providing vital child and maternal health services to communities from Thames to Tokoroa and beyond. Your contribution directly funded core operating costs, allowing our team to focus on what matters most: empowering parents and supporting babies and children under two.In 2024 alone, our Registered Nurses cared for 831 new families, with over 5,000 presentations. Whe...

Visitation Ministry: Bringing Light and Connection to Rest Home Residents

Thanks to the support of the Common Good Foundation, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton has launched a heartfelt visitation initiative, connecting Catholic volunteers with residents in local rest homes. With guidance from Fr Darren McFarlane, the programme has grown steadily, now involving nine dedicated volunteers—each police vetted and trained in safeguarding to ensure respectful and safe engagement.Since February 2025, volunteers have been visiting Catholic residents acros...

Serving Hope: Supporting Thousands Through Compassion and Kai

Over the past year, our food support service has made a profound impact—reaching more than 23,000 people in our community thanks to the generous grant funding we received. Whether facing immediate food insecurity or navigating long-term financial hardship, individuals and whānau have found relief, dignity, and connection through our work.A key part of this success has been our “Super Support” programme, which specifically assists those aged 65 and over. In the past year alone, we’ve sup...

Hope Rising Farm: Growing Confidence, Connection, and Community

This past year, Hope Rising Farm has flourished—thanks to the generous support of the Common Good grant, which covered core operational costs and allowed us to focus on what truly matters: walking alongside tamariki, rangatahi, and wahine facing significant challenges.Our farm-based programmes offer more than just fresh air and pony rides. They provide a safe, nurturing space where participants build resilience, gain practical skills, and experience a sense of belonging. Many arrive feeling ov...

Golden Agers Programme: Empowering Older Adults Through Connection and Care

From November 2024 to August 2025, our older persons programme has continued to thrive—thanks to vital funding that covered operating expenses, programme delivery, and staff wages. At the heart of this initiative is our Golden Agers programme, which supports over 30 participants, with around 20 attending each twice-monthly session.These gatherings are more than just social events—they’re a lifeline. Sessions have included engaging guest speakers from Age Concern, Dementia Waikato, MSD, and...

Kids in Need Waikato: A Year of Growth, Compassion, and Community Impact

Over the past year, Kids in Need Waikato has remained steadfast in its mission to support children raised by caregivers other than their biological parents. From April 2023 to March 2024, the Trust distributed 1,619 seasonal care packs, reaching 1,087 children and 455 caregivers—each pack tailored to the child’s age and needs. The December Christmas campaign brought joy to 1,142 children and caregivers, thanks to overwhelming community support and collaboration with Rotary Clubs.As child pov...

A Lifeline in the Chaos: Our Journey with Waikato Family Centre

When my daughter began waking every 45 minutes, I was running on fumes—mentally, emotionally, and physically. I felt like I was drowning in exhaustion, and the isolation of those sleepless nights was overwhelming. That’s when I found the Waikato Family Centre.From the moment I reached out, their team wrapped me in support. They referred me to Mothercraft for evening help, and provided expert advice on everything from sleep routines to managing my daughter’s chronic constipation—informati...

First Steps to School: Breaking Barriers for Huntly Children

Thanks to generous funding from the Common Good Foundation, our organisation proudly expanded into the Huntly region this past year, delivering vital school supplies to tamariki from vulnerable communities. This initiative has had a transformative impact—removing financial barriers and enabling over 100 children to enrol in school for the very first time.For many of these tamariki, the cost of starting school had previously been an insurmountable hurdle. With our support, they were able to beg...

Meet John: a friend of Orange Sky

John currently lives in his car – but it's not the first time he's been in this situation.It’s been like this on and off for John over the past decade, as finding a place to call home becomes increasingly harder. John works whenever he can, and does a lot of volunteering in the community. We’re all feeling the rising cost of living in our own way, but for friends experiencing homelessness or hardship – it’s getting worse."I've been living in my car for 10 years now. It's hard. Really h...

Our Annual Appeal - Caring Sunday 2025

In a world that often feels uncertain and divided, your generosity continues to shine as a beacon of hope—illuminating the lives of the most vulnerable among us.As Pope Leo XVI so wisely reminded us: “Helping the poor is a matter of justice before a question of charity.” This is a sentiment we see lived out through the actions of our generous donors and supporters. Thanks to all of our supporters throughout the last year, the Common Good Foundation was able to put love into motion—b...

We need you! Calling all volunteers for Caring Sunday.

Our annual appeal is just around the corner, and we’re inviting you to help raise vital funds for our grants programme. Caring Sunday will take place over the last weekend of July—Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th.We're currently seeking volunteers to represent the Common Good Foundation at Masses throughout the Diocese. As an ambassador, you'll help process donations and connect with parishioners after Mass. All volunteers will receive training and a free t-shirt to wear while supporting this i...

The power of role modeling for tamariki [children]

Thanks to Common Good’s generous support, the Graeme Dingle Foundation Waikato has delivered the Kiwi Can programme to 10 primary schools, reaching 1,815 tamariki every week. This funding has fostered positive behaviour, values, and life skills in communities facing socio-economic challenges.Kiwi Can is more than just a programme—it’s a consistent presence that builds confidence, wellbeing, and school culture. At Huntly West School, tamariki adore their Kiwi Can leader, Matua Marlon, whose...

New elected Pope Leo XIV's call for peace

Recently, a historic moment unfolded as Pope Leo XIV delivered his first address in St Peter's Square. This speech marked more than just the beginning of a new papacy—it signalled hope and unity within a divided world. As the Common Good Foundation, it's crucial to reflect on such events that resonate with our mission of compassion and service. Pope Leo's address emphasises peace, a core tenet that aligns with our charity's journey since 1982. Pope Leo XIV's vision for the future involves not ...

Introducing Papatūānuku Support Services and Te Hāpai Mokopuna programme

The Common Good Foundation were very grateful for the introduction to Papatūānuku Support Services (PSS) which came through their application for funding in 2024. Papatūānuku Support Services applied for funding for Te Hāpai Mokopuna (THM), a programme aimed at providing tailored support to tamariki aged 7-12....

Featuring the Good: Video update from Youth Encounter Ministries

The Common Good Foundation is excited to share an inspiring video update from Youth Encounter Ministries. As a 2024 grant recipient, Youth Encounter Ministries continues to transform lives. This video showcases their incredible work and the impact they have on youth, fostering growth and resilience....

AGM 2025 27th May - REGISTER HERE.

The annual Common Good Foundation AGM will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Tuesday 27th of May 2025.The AGM will begin with the 12:05pm weekday Mass and the meeting will follow in the foyer of the Cathedral.To register click here.Any question or queries please contact Caroline at admin@commongood.org.nz...

Big Buddy Does Good - Rotoroa Project

Here at the Common Good Foundation we love to hear of the GOOD that is happening in the community. Big Buddy are one of the community groups who received a grant in 2024.Big Buddy works on the simple philosophy that a boy will benefit greatly from having a positive male role model in their life.A Big Buddy relationship doesn’t just provide a man to do ‘blokey things’ with, it offers friendship, support and a good male role model to look up to. These men aren’t superheroes; they are just ...

A special collaboration with Downlights

Downlights is a social enterprise that employs young adults with Down syndrome and learning disabilities to manufacture luxury scented soy candles right here in Aotearoa. When you purchase candles from the Common Good Foundation, you're helping to contribute to ongoing employment opportunities for the Downlights crew. Watch this video to learn more about our collaboration.  ...

2024 Grant Recipients

Big Buddy Mentoring TrustCathedral of the Blessed Virgin MaryGraeme Dingle Foundation Waikato*Hamilton Combined Christian Foodbank*Hamilton Pastoral Services TeamHoly Name of Jesus Parish (Raglan)Hope Rising Charitable Farm TrustHuringa Pai Charitable Trust*Kids in Need WaikatoMacKillop Catholic YouthOrange Sky Charitable Trust*Papatuuaanuku Charitable Trust*Refugee Orientation Centre TrustSchool Start 1st ImpressionsTauranga Community Foodbank*Te Hahi Aotearoa Trust*Te Rongopai Community TrustT...

Sunshine Services Inc

Sunshine Service has celebrated a milestone birthday after 40 years on the road. Many of Gisborne’s elderly and disabled rely on their services for transport to medical, recreational, and social appointments.“It’s mind boggling to think how many clients we’ve supported since our first vehicle hit the road 40 years ago, and how many hours people have volunteered over the years to keep our operation running,” says David Dewar, Sunshine Service Manager. A smaller purpose-built vehicle des...

Waikato Family Centre

Waikato Family Centre Caring for mothers and their babies in times of crisis. Waikato Family Centre works centrally in Hamilton from a welcoming villa on Radnor street. The facilities include sleeping rooms for babies and their mothers, a communal kitchen area, and a comfy lounge.The Centre provides daytime assistance and support for families in the community and the greater Waikato region, who are struggling with concerns with their babies and toddlers.The service covers a wide range of Ch...

Kids in Need Waikato

"No child is to be given a rubbish bag to hold their belongings" is Linda Roil's mantra for children placed in foster care. These are now replaced with beautifully constructed colourful sacks filled with a set of pyjamas, clean clothes, shoes, toiletries, books, and toys, with a crafted card attached detailing that the bag belongs to a named child.OperationThe operation is run from a property outside Cambridge, in a purpose-built shed with shelving and mezzanine floors. The donated goods are del...

Huringa Pai

Huringa Pai is an organisation working to support community in the Tairawhiti region. Its overarching aim is to empower women in improving their Fono Fale (well-being).The vision of this charitable trust is to enable whanau to live longer, healthier lives, as it became apparent to Willem Jordaan (the founder of this trust) that many whanau were dying too young. Its focus is to empower them with knowledge as to how to overcome these diseases by walking beside them and to support them in making a ...

Parish of Tongariro Catholic

Parish of Tongariro Catholic have recieved grants for a number of community outreach activities. Grants that they have recieved have be utilised to;support the Tuesday Community Lunch which has now been running successfully for 5 years, catering to those in need of a hot 3 course mealprovide firewood to parishioners in needsupport the Helping Hands outreach (a project through which Parish members prepare meals which have been given to the Turangi Foodbank)support the neighbouring Catholic p...

Orange Sky Volunteers

The wonderful Team at Orange Sky have a simple formula – providing a platform for everyday people to connect through a regular laundry and shower service. Each week all over Aotearoa, hundreds of volunteers come together to ensure that people experiencing homelessness or hardship have a place to access essential services and build genuine connections.Meet the amazing volunteers who work for Orange Sky in supporting those in need....